A Tough But Still Entertaining Watch
Summary
Bullet in the Head may not have the rewatch factor of Hard Boiled due to the sheer depressing nature of the story, but this is still an incredible movie with some amazing set-pieces and a genuinely moving narrative. The 4K has some informative and entertaining special features with perfect picture and audio making this easily worth adding to the collection. One of Woo’s finest hours.
Plot: In 1967, on the way to the wedding of a friend, a young man is accosted by a local gang member. Later, the three friends administer justice, in the process of which the gang member is killed, and they leave Hong Kong to avoid the police and the gang. They run black market supplies to Saigon and get embroiled in the war, ultimately becoming captured by the Viet Cong. Their friendship is tested to the limits as they try to escape.
Review: When people discuss their favourite films of John Woo nobody ever seems to mention Bullet in the Head. I admittedly hadn’t watched it since owning the VHS many years ago, but when the new 4K was announced I knew it was time for a revisit.
At the time of the film’s release John Woo created his own production company called John Woo Films. This was the first and only film made by the company as sadly the film flopped at the box office. I can understand why as it’s depressing stuff and an uncompromising vision that won’t be to everyone’s tastes.
In this 4K Woo discusses how the inspiration for the film came from being betrayed by friends in his life, so he wanted to make a film about friendships going very wrong.
Bullet in the Head might be John Woo’s most accomplished film in terms of story, characters and sheer scale. The action in this movie is jaw dropping at times, especially the battle scenes. The first half of the film is arguably my favourite as it just gets so grim in the second half and leaves you with absolutely nothing.
Tony Leung is the main star, Ben (or Bee as he’s also known) and he and his friends Paul (Waise Lee) and Fai Jai (Jacky Cheung) have a knack for getting into trouble during a tumultuous time in Hong Kong. With riots breaking out the city is at a boiling point and after Fai Jai is beaten up by a rival gang the group end up killing the leader and go on the run to Vietnam. If their lives weren’t complicated before now, they’re about to get a whole lot worse. There they meet Lok (Simon Yam), a charismatic gangster but trouble follows this group everywhere and they up killing another gangster and stealing his gold.
I don’t want to go into the whole story, but a lot happens in this movie and it’s a harrowing and at times just plain exhausting film to get through. The scenes in the POW camp are unflinchingly real and capture what it must have been like to be confined there.
The performances are some of the best in any Woo film and Waise Lee is especially hateful as the treacherous Paul.
Due to sheer depressing nature of the story, I understand why people don’t see this film often as it is a tough watch and the fact it has no real sense of hope by the end doesn’t exactly make you want to rush back to rewatch it.
Still, as I said, the action scenes are utterly spectacular with some fights, shoot-outs and incredible explosions. It’s relentlessly paced too rarely slowing down, although I do feel it is a tad too long.
The score is suitably haunting with a memorable harmonica theme which works perfectly for the doomed friendships.
Special Features (Blu-ray Disc)
- NEW 4K Scan from the Original Camera Negative (also on 4K UHD disc).
- NEW Dolby Vision presentation.
- NEW Optional English Subtitles (Newly Translated).
- NEW Audio Commentary with Film Critic Frank Djeng.
- Festival Cut of Bullet in the Head (approx. 136 mins).
- Alternate Boardroom Ending (approx. 5 mins).
- NEW: Brilliance with a Bullet: Interview with Director/Writer John Woo (approx. 43 mins).
- NEW: Head Case!: Interview with Actor Waise Lee (approx. 18 mins).
- NEW: Army of One: Interview with Producer Terence Chang (approx. 4 mins).
- NEW: Apocalypse Woo: Interview with Editor David Wu (approx. 8 mins).
- NEW: Tumultuous Times: Interview with Production Planner Catherine Lau (approx. 16 mins).
- Hong Kong Confidential: Inside Bullet in the Head with Author Grady Hendrix (approx. 13 mins).
- Trailers (2 total).
- Image Gallery.
The fact there is the Festival Cut of the movie as well as the theatrical is arguably the best feature; it’s only a few minutes longer than the theatrical, but it’s still awesome. John Woo’s interview is wonderfully honest as is Terence Chang who said he isn’t a big fan of the Vietnam scenes as it seemed a bit hokey to him. I love how he says exactly what’s on his mind and doesn’t sugarcoat anything.
The other features are all entertaining with Frank Djeng as entertaining as always on the commentary. Catherine Clau talks about working on the film as does Waise Lee who goes into how he started off as a model and worked his way into films.
The picture and sound are amazing compared the VHS copy I used to have, so this is definitely worth the upgrade.
Overall, Bullet in the Head may be less commercial than John Woo’s other movies from the time, but this is still stellar stuff with some incredible set-pieces and a moving story. The 4K looks and sounds perfect making this well worth adding to the collection.